Framework Laptop 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Comparison

Laptop to replace

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Framework Laptop 13

13.5 inches | May 2022

Speed 4

Size 9

Display 5

Gaming 2

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Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

12.4 inches | June 2022

Speed 3

Size 9

Display 3.5

Gaming 2

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Framework Laptop 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Comparison Overview

Framework Laptop 13

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Microsoft Surface La...

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Framework Laptop 13

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Microsoft Surface La...

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In this review, we will be comparing Laptop 13 and Surface Laptop Go 2, two laptops from Framework and Microsoft. Framework Laptop 13 was introduced to market in May 2022 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 was launched in June 2022. There is only 1 months difference between Laptop 13 and Surface Laptop Go 2 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Framework Laptop 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Framework Laptop 13 Key Specs

Launched in May 2022
13.5" IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1240P
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
296 x 229 x 15.85 mm (11.65 x 9.02 x 0.62 inches)
Weight: 1.3 kg (2.87 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Key Specs

Launched in June 2022
12.4" Touchscreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
4GB Ram
278.2 x 206.2 x 15.7 mm (10.95 x 8.12 x 0.62 inches)
Weight: 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 was replaced by Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs Framework Laptop 13

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Laptop 13 and Surface Laptop Go 2 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Framework Laptop 13 over Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~80.1% vs ~79.8%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.3 mm vs 8 mm	2.7 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	13.5 inches vs 12.4 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen PPI	201 ppi vs 149 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Opening Angle	180° vs 135°	More flexible screen
Screen Resolution	2256 x 1504 pixels vs 1536 x 1024 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
sRGB Color Space	97.1% vs 93.8%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	68.9% vs 63.6%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Adobe RGB Profile	71.1% vs 65%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
Max Brightness	400 nits vs 330 nits	Brighter Screen
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	More RAM Options
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.1	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
Number of USB-C Ports	4x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.0 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
Display Port	Yes vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 over Framework Laptop 13

Weight	1.24 kg vs 1.30 kg	0.06 kg lighter
Noise Level	41.8 dB vs 49.2 dB	Less fan noise
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
Response Time	33 ms vs 44 ms	Faster Response screen
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Avg. MSRP Price	$400-800 vs $800-1200	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Common Strengths of Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Framework Laptop 13

Launch Dates	May 2022 vs June 2022	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
RAM Type	DDR4 vs LPDDR4X	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs Yes	Easy Login with Fingerprint Sensor
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable

Common Weaknesses of Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Framework Laptop 13

HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support

Framework Laptop 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Framework Laptop 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.3 kg (2.87 lbs)	1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)
Surface Area	678 cm2 (105.1 inches2)	574 cm2 (88.9 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~80.1%	~79.8%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.3 mm	~8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver	Silver, Blue, Green, Yellow
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	135Â°

Comparison of the Framework Laptop 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 External Dimensions

Weight

Laptop 13 weighs 1.3 kg (2.87 lbs), whereas the Surface Laptop Go 2 weighs 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Framework Laptop 13

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Thickness Comparison

Framework Laptop 13

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Framework Laptop 13 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is 0.10 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Framework Laptop 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 1240P Intel Core i7 1260P Intel Core i7 1280P Intel Core i5 1340P Intel Core i7 1360P Intel Core i7 1370P AMD Ryzen 5 7640U AMD Ryzen 7 7840U	Intel Core i5 1135G7
Base Frequency	1.7 GHz	0.9-2.4 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.4 GHz	4.2 GHz
Number of Cores	12	4
Number of Threads	16	8
L3 Cache	12 MB	8 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1593	1324
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	7956	4633
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1516	1355
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	9305	5087

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Framework Laptop 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1240P

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1135G7

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1100 MHz	1100 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	DDR4	LPDDR4X
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	3.2 Gbps	4.27 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	640	640
TMUs	40	40
ROPs	20	20

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Framework Laptop 13 has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 ' has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	4GB 8GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	2x2 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	4266 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	LPDDR4X
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	64 GB
Total Slots	2

With a larger RAM capacity of 8 GB, the Laptop 13 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's RAM capacity of 4 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Framework Laptop 13	Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
CPU	Intel Core i5 1240P	Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU
Memory	8 GB	4 GB
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~0.5 GB (0.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Framework Laptop 13|Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	55 Wh 61 Wh	41 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	-	Right
Charge Power	60 W	39 W
Full Charging Time	1:30 hr

Moreover, the Laptop 13 boasts a larger battery capacity of 55 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's41 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Framework Laptop 13

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the Laptop 13 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's max. storage capacity of 256 GB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	128 GB, 256 GB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Framework Laptop 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Framework Laptop 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Laptop 13 has a display size of 13.5".On the other hand, Surface Laptop Go 2 has a smaller 12.4" display.The total usable screen area of the Laptop 13 is 543cm² / 84inch² whereas the Surface Laptop Go 2's total usable screen area is 458cm² / 71inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Laptop 13 features a higher pixel density with 201 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Framework Laptop 13

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Laptop 13 and Surface Laptop Go 2 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Furthermore, the Surface Laptop Go 2 boasts a faster response time of 33.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Laptop 13 offers a higher maximum brightness of 400 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Framework Laptop 13

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Framework Laptop 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Laptop 13 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Surface Laptop Go 2 (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Surface Laptop Go 2 is equipped with 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. Laptop 13 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Laptop 13 and Surface Laptop Go 2 have USB Type-C ports. Laptop 13 has 4x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Surface Laptop Go 2 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Laptop 13 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Laptop Go 2 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Laptop 13 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.0) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Laptop Go 2 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Laptop 13 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Surface Laptop Go 2 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Laptop 13 and Surface Laptop Go 2 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.3	v5.1
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	1x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	4x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.0	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	1x v1.4	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	Yes